Printing Resources

Overview 

• This page lists articles and videos on the printing industry and printers.

• Some of the videos are advertisements which we link to because they explain the specific printers or printing processes.

• These resources will help you understand the printing industry and the print-specific terms we use throughout the documentation such as Labels (Flexo); Labels (Digital), Litho (Jobbing), Litho (Colour), Digital, Large Format.

General 

• Printing Processes Technology: Lists the six major printing processes and compares them. Discusses advantages of digital printing. 

Labels (Flexo) 

• Flexographic Printing Basics

• Flexographic Printing Explained

• What is Flexographic Printing?

  • Use a flexible printing plate that transfers your design to a material. There are five core parts that make this possible: the ink reservoir, fountain roller, anilox roller, plate cylinder, and impression cylinder. They all work to move your ink to be printed on all sorts of mediums - tape, tissue paper, boxes, and mailers.

• What is Flexographic Label Printing? | A Guide To Understanding Flexography for Business Labels

  • Flexographic label printing is fast and efficient and used for low to high-volume applications.

  • Flexography utilizes a flexible printing plate to transfer ink to printable substrates in a high-speed rotary process.

• Labels and Stickers Manufacturing Process - Flexo Printing

  • The printing process shows how those labels are made in factories to beautify products on shop shelves. 

Labels (Digital) 

• HP Indigo V12 Digital Press: The New Math of Label Printing | Indigo Digital Presses:

  • HP Indigo introduced the new printing method with HP Indigo V12 Digital Press, the first press to utilise the new industry-altering LEPx technology.

• Konica Minolta Bizhub PressC71CF Digital Label Printer:

  • Konica Minolta Bizhub C71cf digital label printer from 2015.

• Afinia DLP2200 Digital Label Press Overview | HD Labels:

  • Print, laminate, cut, strip, slit and rewind labels at speed and all in one pass.

• AccurioLabel 400 | Konica Minolta

  • The AccurioLabel 400 is for label, packaging, and embellishment markets. 

• AccurioLabel 230 Demo

• Label Slitters | In-Line Label Slitting and Rewinding Machine | SR-100:

  • Label Slitters are a quick and easy way to slit multiple-across label rolls into single rolls.

  • For In-Line Slitting the SR-100 / SR-200 Stand Alone units can be placed at the output of your printer allowing you to slit the labels as they are printed.

• FS Label Slitting & Rewinding & Inspection System

  • Brotech FS is a label quality inspection, slitting, and rewinding system, with servo driven 3”/76mm air shaft for unwinding/rewinding.  

• Labelsmart - All-in-one Label Maker

Lithographic 

Litho Explained 

• Offset Lithographic Printing

  •  A short animation showing how offset lithographic printing works.

• How Does The Offset Lithographic Printing Process Work? 

• What is Lithographic Printing?

  • The most common type of lithographic printing is offset.

  • This printing process is based on the fact that oil and water do not mix.

  • In offset lithography, you have an oil-based ink roller and a cylinder covered in water.

  • Your printing plate moves through both and picks up the positive and negative parts of the image.

  • The positive parts of the design will attract the ink while repelling the rest.

  • Next, the inked, positive parts of the design are transferred to the blanket cylinder.

  • That is what makes the process offset.

  • The blanket transfers the image on your print surface while the impression cylinder pushes your substrate onto the print plate giving your image its crisp, beautiful design.  

Colour Machines 

• Heidelberg SM 52 – 4 – 1998: 4 Colours Offset Press of size 37 x 52 cm 

• Heidelberg XL105 Offset Press Animation: The Heidelberg XL 105 offset press.

• Heidelberg Speedmaster CX102 Press

• Heidelberg Speedmaster CX104 Press

Jobbing Machines 

• Ryobi 3200 MCD Printing Press

Digital 

• What is Digital Printing?

• Xerox Iridesse Production Press Demo

• Xerox Iridesse Production Press Technology Tour 

• Exploring the World of Digital Printing: Unveiling HP Indigo Printers and Printing Technology 

• HP Indigo 20000 groundbreaking digital print production for flexible packaging and labels

• Canon imagePRESS V1000 Product Details 

Large Format (Reels) 

• What Are Large Format Printers?

• HP Latex 800 Printer Series: Equipped to Win Big | Latex Printers | HP - Large format printers that go where solvent can't - flexible coated and uncoated materials for banners, canvas, wallpaper, and more.

• Large Format Printing for Trade Shows, Banners, Wall Graphics and Event Signs - Large format printing is one of the many high-quality printing processes. Print banners, wall graphics, window graphics, and custom jobs designed to cover large surface areas for trade shows and events.

Large Format (Sheets) 

• What Are Large Format Printers?

• Large Format Print & Production Process: Print and Production process for retail signage. 

• Promotional Printing: The JHF Vista V2800 UV Flatbed Printer: Print point-of-purchase display materials, packaging and free-standing display units. Produce signage, interior decor and promotional items.

• JHF F3900 Super Wide UV Flatbed Industrial Inkjet Printer

• Agfa Anapurna H3200i LED large-format printer: 

  • The wide-format hybrid Anapurna LED series is a perfect fit for sign shops, digital printers, photo labs and mid-size graphic screen printers that want to combine board and roll-to-roll print jobs. The Anapurna H3200i LED prints at a width of up to 3.2 m and combines high quality with high productivity for outdoor and indoor, rigid and flexible wide-format jobs.

• Large Format Printing (Clear Acrylic): Custom printed clear acrylic 

Substrates 

• What Are Printing Substrates?

  • In the printing industry, the choice of substrate is crucial as it can impact the quality, durability, and appearance of the final product. This article defines and explores the various aspects of printing substrates, offering a comprehensive understanding of their role in printing

• Printing Terminology: What is a Substrate?

  • A substrate is the base material on which another material is applied. Hence, in the realm of printing, the Substrate refers to the paper, cardstock, or other printable material to which ink, clear topcoats, embossed designs, or similar enhancements are applied. 

• Possibilities of Print: Substrate Varieties

  • Take a look at substrate varieties that can enhance printing possibilities. 

• Paper Choices for Printing: Which Substrate is Right for You?

  • Having a basic knowledge of this medium is important because there are many different things to consider when deciding which type of paper to print on.

• List of Substrates You Can Use for Large-Format Printing

  • In the dynamic world of large-format printing, understanding the diverse range of substrates available for your printing projects is crucial.

• What are some common types of substrates used in wide-format printing? 

  • A key element of wide format printing is the choice of substrate or the material that the image or design is printed onto.